The Forsaken Throne by Jeff Wheeler

Author:Jeff Wheeler
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult
ISBN: 9781477807736
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2017-11-13T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Hillel Lavender

The queen’s eyes narrowed. “Drag the carcass away, you two. You, remain here.” Her gaze was fixed on Trynne.

Deven promptly obeyed and hefted the dead man beneath the arms. Fallon shot Trynne a concerned look, his jaw clenching, but after a brief pause, he grabbed the dead man’s ankles and hoisted him up. The Tay al-Ard pressed against Trynne’s back—a tantalizing reminder that she could escape. But she wouldn’t leave without Fallon.

“Your Majesty?” Trynne asked in a submissive voice.

The queen stepped closer, studying her face. “What is your name?”

“My name is Fidelis.”

“The Pry-rian word for ‘faithful,’” the queen answered, raising her eyebrows. “Curious. Are you Pry-rian, then? That is my heritage. My father was a mighty prince who was slain by the King of Comoros. As a baby, I was sent to Sempringfall Abbey to be raised a wretched. A nameless one. Unwanted.” Her voice betrayed deeper emotion. She paced slowly in front of Trynne, eyeing her guardedly. “Even my name was stolen from me. I worked in the laundry as a lavender. I was called Hillel, but that was not my true name. Let me see your hand.”

Trynne frowned, feeling more and more uncomfortable. “My lady?”

“Your hand. Now.”

Trynne hesitated, but though she was fearful the queen would see what Martin had seen in her, she had no recourse other than to open her hand.

The queen gripped Trynne’s wrist and examined her palm, looking for something. The urge to pull away, and the knowledge that she could not, was maddening. The queen stroked her finger along Trynne’s palm.

“You have calluses like a knight,” the queen said. “But you are no maston. I thought you were.” She released her grip and Trynne pulled her arm back, feeling vulnerable and worried.

“I am not,” Trynne said, shaking her head.

“A pity, then. All the mastons have fled. They fear me, and rightly so. But where are they? Where did they flee to? It is a great mystery.”

The noise of bootsteps hurrying down the hall announced the arrival of another person. Trynne risked a glanced back and saw Martin approaching, his eyes livid, his face twisted into a frown.

“You were attacked?” he said, his voice throbbing with concern.

“I was not,” she said disdainfully. “My new knights were there to protect me. You chose them well. They defeated both kishion.”

“Two?” Martin shouted in outrage.

“Yes, there were two. This one detected them.” She gave Trynne a pleased nod.

Martin gave Trynne a grateful look. “Well done, lad. One of them was carrying this,” he said, holding up a folded note. The seal was broken off. He handed it to the queen. “I cannot read this, my lady. You must.”

The queen frowned and snatched the note from his hand. Her eyebrows furrowed as she perused the contents. Martin gazed at her, a look of relief evident and naked on his face. It was not feigned; he looked as if he had truly been frightened for her safety. She realized that Fallon’s instincts were right—something bound these two together.

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